In the Shadow of His Wings

Sponsa Christi June 26th, 2011

    I know, you’re wondering if you are really at the monastic blog of the Passionist Nuns or the “Passionist Nuts” – as we might be referred to on a Gaudeamus day!

   Some years ago, (how many I don’t know, before my time, which would be over 16 years ago) the brother of Sr. Ann Miriam gave us an Appalachian mountain dulcimer which was handcrafted in eastern Kentucky. One of the songs in the book of directions and music that came with the dulcimer was the old American folk song – “Bile (boil) ‘dem (them) cabbage down”.  Sr. Cecilia Maria was able to figure out the dulcimer pretty quickly and we just had to make a skit to go with this song. Hence, our after meal entertainment for Mother Catherine Marie’s gaudeamus day last week.

   Since the directions say that the dulcimer is “best” played with a turkey feather we just had to include that “five-legged” turkey that Sr. John Mary saw a few months back on the back hill of our cloister courtyard. Yes, perhaps I’ll tell you that story at another date.

The schedule for Mother’s special day

The cast of “The Passionist Nuts Meet Mad Kentucky”

    In case you are in need of some comic relief here’s the skit…

The Dulcimer Chronicles:
Passionist Nuts Meet Mad Kentucky

Cast:
Sr. Mary Poppins Veronica
Sr. Rose Marie
Sr. Cecilia Maria

Part The First  (announced by the passing of the poster nun- SMV)

[The three sisters gather at the back of the recreation room, coming in from the refectory.]

SMPV: May St. Michael and all the holy angels…

Novices: guard us in all our ways!

SMPV: The presence of God…
   Jesus, Mary and Joseph be praised…

Novices: forever and ever!

SMPV: Well…. Wacha wanna do?
 
SRM: I dunno. Watchoo wanna do?

SCeM: When in doubt… consult the novitiate store room!

SMPV: Of course!

 [SMPV goes over to a door in the recreation room opens it and disappears into the “store room”]

SMPV: Aha! I have just the thing!

 [She brings in a box, setting it on the puzzle table, which is covered with a cloth. There will be a helper (SJnM?) behind the table.]

SCeM: Ahh! What’s this?
SMPV: Well… I thought that we could learn new instruments and start a Passionist band so we can play for MCM’s Gaudeamus today. What do you think?

SCeM: (Use some fun Latin word that would be the equivalent of “Great! Let’s do it!)

SRM: So what kind of band do you have in mind, Sister?

SMPV: Well, let’s see

 [SMPV opens up the box and begins to pull out some of the smaller instruments—flutophone, yuke, etc…
 She bends down and looks deeper into the box and says:]

SMPV: Ha! that’s funny! I was sure there was something else in here… Hmm!

 [She reaches and digs around in the box, bent and looking deeply into it as though into a deep hole…
 She reaches deep and the hidden helper hands her the xylophone]

SMPV: Aha! Here’s one!

 [She pulls the xylophone out. SRM & SCeM look astounded…
 She reaches in again, and the hidden helper gives her the mandolin banjo]

SRM & SCeM:  ????? How did you…? But where…?

 [SMPV digs a little more and pulls out a dulcimer with the help of the hidden helper…]

SCeM: What kind of a violin is that?

SMPV: I’m not sure… I think it might be a dulcimer.

SRM: A whatimer?

SCeM: Let’s see…
 [SCeM opens up the case. We all “ooooh and ahhhh.”
 SRM reads instructions while SCeM takes it out and follows the instructions
 for how to hold it and how to play. Read note about the *5-legged-turkey  feather.]

SRM: Now where would we get a feather from a 5-legged turkey???

SCeM: I know! SJnM saw one the other day. You could ask her!

 [SRM goes to the TV room door which has a sign that says “SJnM” on it.]

SRM: [to herself] She’s not here. I guess I’ll have to find one myself.

(all exit the scene at this point.)

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Cast:
Sr. Rose Marie
The 5-legged-turkey

Part The Second  (announced by the passing of the poster nun- SMV)

SJnM comes out wearing the 5-legged-turkey get up. She does a little turkey  walk/dance made up impromptu by herself.   Then she “parks” somewhere and acts like she’s sleeping…

SRM comes in with a “bush” in front of her. She spots the turkey, gets excited, and signals for all to be quiet. Then she slowly creeps nearer to the turkey and…. SPRINGS!

The turkey has a “gobble fit.” SRM obtains a turkey feather. She holds it up like a trophy. The turkey takes off, exiting the scene, but pokes her head  back in just long enough to make a funny teasing face. Then SRM exits the scene holding up the feather.

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Cast:
Sr. Mary Poppins Veronica
Sr. Rose Marie
Sr. Cecilia Maria
Community

Part The Third  (announced by the passing of the poster nun- SMV)

[Someone (SCeM?) plays a trumpet tune on the xylophone introducing SRM  onto the scene where the other sisters are waiting with the dulcimer.  She is victoriously displaying the turkey feather. She’s wearing a straw hat with a blade of grass in teeth. She’s also holding a bag with a paper coon tail sticking out.]

SMPV: SRM! What happened?!

SRM: Whew-Wee! It was a big-un, yaw!…

Uh-saw-t… jess-uh snoozin’.
‘Den I comes up reeeeel ‘kwite’, an’ Hot dawg!
I gots de fether uh-de fi-legged turkey!…
Am I back in time fer muther’s gig?

SCeM: SRM! You ‘done turn’d hill-billy!

SRM: Yep! I done ben kentuckianized!

[She tosses SCeM a straw hat]

(I thought it would be awesome if SCeM burst out with some “hill-billy” Latin right here as she puts on her hat etc… If we have time to figure that out.)
 
SRM: Sis-ter Mare-D’lores. Guessh whut… I done got some coons!
 
[SRM then goes over to SMD and holds up the coon-tail bag]

SCeM: Bedder go git de cook book an’ dat smokin’ flaver.

SRM: Den we ken bake ‘em up reeeeel good! Whewwww Wee!

SCeM: Maybe we ken puts ‘um in de mikerwave fer ur week er two!

SRM: [Remembering that she’s holding the turkey feather…]
 Eh! Ere’s de noter. Give ‘er uh go!

SCeM: Whewww Weee!
 [She hands SCeM the feather. SCeM begins to play the cords of “Boil ‘dem Cabbage Down”]

SMPV: I have just the thing!
 
[She goes over to her box and pulls out a stack of lyrics to give to each sister so they can sing along.]

SRM: Yaw come’on now! Ever’ body sang!

[Everybody joins in singing Boil ‘dem Cabbage Down.]

All end with “Happy Gaudeamus Mother!”

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   Now, remember that all copyrights to photos and text on this blog belong to the Passionist Nuns. Therefore, don’t be getting any ideas of copying any of this and using it elsewhere. Our reputation for somber, boring nuns might be ruined. I hope no one is “offended” by our play on the legendary Kentucky hill-billy accent. Since we ourselves live in Kentucky we thought we could get away with sharing it with you without “upsetting” anyone.  If you are offended perhaps you need someone to tickle your funny-bone with a turkey feather and to serve you up some boiled cabbage and ”coon”, raccoon, that is.

    Anyhow, there was some spirituality in our day as well. Mother Catherine Marie has great devotion to Our Lady of Fatima and the theme of Our Lady’s messages which is to join her in being “coredeemers” for the salvation of mankind. So that was the theme of her card. She also received some practical and some spiritual gifts, including a very special book Eucharist – God Among Us by Joan Carter McHugh, given to us by a special benefactor.

    We also watched a great movie - Paul VI from Ignatius Press. We highly recommend it. What a saintly man this pope was. How blessed we are to have had so many saintly popes in the 20th century!

Sister Ann Miriam wearing the “party hat”

Sr. Cecilia Maria with her origami bunny wabbits which were a part of the party decorations. Mother Catherine Marie’s beloved deceased father, having his “Doctorate in Rabbit Psychology” , was famous for his love of domesticated rabbits and their many uses.

Catching the last glimpse of a rainbow at the end of a wonderful day in the monastery.

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Tags: Gaudeamus Days, Humor, Kentucky

• Blessed Mother , Passionist Life
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Sponsa Christi June 25th, 2011

    Some words of inspiration from our Sister Mary Andrea, written shortly before Sr. Margaret Mary’s death…

If only we knew

Big ones & small ones,
Oh, what treasures You give!
If only we knew…

They come in all forms;
Soft & smooth, rough & sharp
Covered with adornments of all sorts;
Flowers & vines, thorns & thistles,
Drops of Your Blood.

If only we knew the graces these purchase,
Lord, we’d probably ask for more of these crosses.

Yet, how foolish we would be, Lord God,
to ask You for more.
You already supply us with just the right size & form,
Adorning them with just the right setting.
If only we knew…

Thank You, Lord God, for using us
that others might know…        
…You, too.

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    Please keep our Sister Rose Marie in your prayers. She, the “bride-to-be”, entered into her 6 day retreat today. Her wedding to the King of kings and Lord of lords is this Friday! 

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   We had a great gaudeamus day celebration last week in honor of Mother Catherine Marie. I hope to post those photos soon…(famous last words???) 

    Abundant blessings as we enter into the great Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ!

    Above image found here.

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• Bride of Christ , Passionist Spirituality , Redemptive Suffering
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Sponsa Christi June 22nd, 2011

    Annually on the Feast of the Sacred Heart each Sister receives a message from the Sacred Heart of Jesus typed out on a slip of paper. In 2010 the messages were taken from the diary of Saint Faustina. Currently, one of our Sisters is going through the belongings of our dear departed Sr. Margaret Mary.  She recently came across the message Sr. Margaret Mary was given last June. Immediately I thought of you all and wanted to share it with you.

    Our Sister Margaret Mary suffered immensely the last 18 months of her life due to Fourth stage Multiple Myeloma cancer and a multitude of other complications. It was so difficult to see her go through this. We couldn’t remove her suffering but we tried to journey with her through it. Although, ultimately, it became an intimate dance of surrender to Jesus, her Divine Bridegroom. We praise God that during her last weeks on earth she was alleviated of much pain.

    Here is the message Sr. Margaret Mary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus received from the Sacred Heart in 2010:

My daughter, know that if I allow you to feel and have a more profound knowledge of My sufferings, that is a grace from Me. But when your mind is dimmed and your sufferings are great, it is then that you take an active part in My Passion, and I am conforming you more fully to Myself. It is your task to submit yourself to My will at such times, more than at others. You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone. I am giving you a share in My sufferings because of My special love for you and in view of the high degree of holiness I am intending for you in heaven. A suffering soul is closest to My Heart.”

    I hope you will receive this message as personally transmitted to YOU.  He has loved you with an everlasting Love.

    And may Sister experience the full embrace of that special love from her Crucified Spouse and may she intercede for us!

     Above image found here.

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• Monastery traditions , Passionist Life , Redemptive Suffering
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Sponsa Christi June 16th, 2011

     We recently heard from a dear friend and newly ordained priest, who, within his homily for the Vigil of Pentecost, gave a wonderful explanation of the cloister separation in our chapel.  Father graciously permitted me to copy this from his blog. Although he has made the Archdiocese of Louisville his home, he is a native of Owensboro. Father, we look forward to when you can offer Mass here at the monastery!

   Following is my homily for the Pentecost Vigil Mass, which has a different set of readings than the Mass on the day of Pentecost…

    In the Passionist monastery, the nuns are set apart by a water channel with about a two-foot stone boundary that runs from the steps of the sanctuary all the way down the center aisle of the chapel to the entryway that has a waist-high holy water font. In this way, the laity pray on one side of the channel and the nuns on the other and both are still in view of each other. What makes this water channel so beautiful is that it maintains the cloister that the nuns require but it also gives deep meaning to the chapel and the liturgies that are celebrated there. Ultimately, it is a symbol of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who are often symbolized by water in Holy Scripture.

    Jesus, as St. John’s Gospel tells us, stood up and exclaimed to all the people, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. As Scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him who believes in me.’” And John explains, “He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive.” For Jesus, timing is everything. This happened on the last day of the Jews’ great seven-day celebration called, The Festival of Booths. During this annual liturgical celebration, pilgrims who came to Jerusalem would live in huts made of branches that they called “booths.” One of the major rituals of the week would consist of the high priest drawing water from the Pool of Siloam, carrying it in procession into the Temple and then pouring it on the stone altar of sacrifice to commemorate the time in which the Lord God provided for his people during their Exodus journey through the desert by making water flow from a rock. It is against the backdrop of this celebration that Jesus stands up and exclaims that he is the source of spiritual water and that it is he who satisfies all that we thirst for.

    Plus, Jesus and the people both knew that the name for the pool that the priest drew water from, “Siloam,” means “Sent.” By connecting himself to that pool, Jesus helps them to know that as the Source of Life, he will send them Life Itself in the form of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

    Everything that water means for the body, now has meaning for our soul. Just as water cleanses the body, gives us strength, and refreshes us, so the Living Water of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, cleanses our souls of sin in Baptism and Reconciliation, gives us strength in Confirmation, and refreshes us in the Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick. The Holy Spirit is active in all seven of the sacraments constantly forming and transforming us as the New People of God as we wander in our Exodus journey through the desert of this life to the Promised Land of Heaven.

    How are we doing on this journey? At times are we a “stiff-necked” people, doubting that the Lord can provide for us or rebelling against his commands? If we see ourselves as God’s chosen people, bound to Him by a covenant, with the goal of following Him faithfully in this life so that we can be happy with Him forever in the next, then we can give our lives a proper context. We can ask ourselves, “Am I faithfully keeping my covenant with God? Do I avail myself generously of all that the Holy Spirit provides me through the Church in order to stay faithful to God? Or am I not content with these and turn to other things to satisfy my deepest thirsts?” It can be helpful, in trying to live as faithful Catholics day-by-day, to see ourselves as that Old Testament people and seeing the Holy Spirit as the giver of all that they needed and all that we need today.

    Our first reading began to describe how God forged the covenant with his people; it was done amid the majesty of Mt. Sinai, amid thunder and lightning, heavy clouds, loud trumpet blasts, columns of smoke and fire, and earthquakes. This was done in order to show His people that his might and power exceeds that of all the other pagan gods. God is the One, True, God of Power and Might. This was also done to show them the great significance of what they were being brought into, what it means to be the chosen people of such a powerful God.

    The Lord said to His People, then and now: “If you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” Our covenant with God wasn’t forged amid fire and lightening, rather, it was forged at our Baptism amid the fire and light of our Baptismal candle and the fire and light infused in our souls by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Holy Water.

   Just like the water channel in the Passionist monastery, we are sent through the Church to be transformed and to transform the world around us. Just like the water from the Pool of Siloam, we are Sent as God’s People with the aid of all that the Holy Spirit gives us. With His grace, we become more and more God’s special possession. In fact, we become, as Moses foretold, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.

    As a people set apart, for all the world to see, as an example to the world of how they should live and what they are capable of with God as their Father, we must ask ourselves today: As one member of the entire Body of Christ… As one Catholic in the whole universal Catholic Church… How am I serving the larger body? How am I portraying the Catholic Church to the world around me? Do I make the life of a Catholic one that others would want to follow so that they too can be helped by the graces given to me through the Church? Does my life cause others to want to be one with Christ too? Do I act in a priestly way – and this question is for all of us. Do I make sacrifices for other people? Do I offer up my sufferings to God? Do I pray for my family and friends? In these ways we all, ordained or not, can become the holy nation that God wants us to be.

    All of his would be a heavy yoke, burdensome, and impossible if we were formed as God’s people and then sent forth to rely on our own power. But, neither God nor the Church gives us responsibilities and then leaves us to our own devices. Rather, we have been given the power of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son and with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified.

   It is this same Holy Spirit, who spoke from all time through the prophets and through the Church today, who is our help, our advocate, our guide. He is the one who makes the yoke and the burden of the life of holiness, the life of a Catholic Christian, easy and light. He makes life as a child of God one of joyfulness, happiness, peacefulness, and calmness. Does this describe our lives today?

    The Holy Spirit comes to each of us in His own way. But we can find hope in knowing that the Holy Spirit has indeed come to all of us. At this Vigil Mass we anticipate and long for Him to come again in our lives. This is His desire too. We have only to acknowledge and remember the great things He has already done for us, plead for Him to come again and again, be willing to receive Him, and then be willing to live according to Him. The Holy Spirit will even help us ask. For as St. Paul says, “the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought.” How happy the Lord will be to look down upon his people and see in each one of us rivers of living water flowing forth in a life of holiness and a world transformed by His Power in us.

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Sponsa Christi June 12th, 2011

    Well, I though I shouldn’t leave the blog for long with the subject of chiggers ending the last post! So, I shall seek to speak of more sublime things in this post.

    With great joy we welcomed one of the Church’s newest priests – long-time friend from our diocese – Fr. Austin Dominic (Jared) Litke, OP (Dominican Friar of St. Joseph Province). Offering Mass for us was one of his top priorities upon his arrival home last week. What a blessing that was for us!

Pictured here with the fabulous cake made by our dear friend Larena Lawson

This is the holy image Fr. Austin used for his ordination card. Father was delighted to be able to use this picture as it is a perfect summation of his priestly ordination.

    Found at the Boston Public Library. . . This Crucifix is a small model for a part of a wall showing ‘The Dogma of Redemption’. Figures of Adam and Eve at either side of the cross collect Christ’s blood, and below his feet is a traditional symbol of the resurrection, a pelican feeding its young with its blood. Notice also the serpent wrapped around Adam’s feet and those of Jesus and that the nail going through Jesus’ feet also goes through the serpent…a very meaningful meditation.

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    Speaking of new ordinands…Sr. John Mary’s brother Jeff Read is preparing to be ordained to the Transitional Diaconate for the Diocese of Evansville (Indiana) this Saturday, June 18th at 10 a.m.  Please do keep him and his co-seminarian Brian Emmick in your prayers.

Prayer for Seminarians and Priests

    O Jesus, You are the Eternal High Priest. You are the only Mediator between God and man. You have established priests as Your collaborators to perpetuate in the Holy Mass, the saving Sacrifice of Your death on the Cross and to sanctify souls through their ministry. You have chosen Your priests from among us. For so great a gift to Your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving.

   We ask You to fill Jeff Read and Brian Emmick with the fire of Your love, that his ministry may reveal Your presence in the world. Since he is an earthen vessel, we pray that Your power shine out through his human weakness. In his afflictions let him never be crushed; in his doubts, never despair; in temptation, never be destroyed; in persecution, never abandoned. Inspire him to live each day the mystery of Your dying and rising. By the power of the Holy Spirit put Your word on his lips, Your humility in his heart, Your love in his actions, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the broken-hearted. 

  And may the gift of Mary, Your Mother, to the disciple whom You loved (cf. John 19), be Your gift to Jeff. Grant that she who formed You in her human image may form Jeff in Your Divine Image, by the power of your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

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   More good news…one of Sr. Mary Andrea’s sisters, Theresa, was recently accepted to work with FOCUS, a wonderful Catholic college ministry. Please pray for her. She has just graduated from college and is heading off for FOCUS training. Thank you Theresa for saying “yes” to Jesus’ call in your life!

   This Thursday will bring us a belated Gaudeamus celebration of Mother Catherine Marie’s feastday (St. Catherine of Siena – April 29th). We hope it will be a day of joy and grace for Mother!

    And the news many of you have been waiting to hear… drum roll please… YES! Our novice, Sister Rose Marie of the Merciful Heart of Jesus, has been accepted to make her First Profession of the five Passionist Vows!  Praise the Lord!!!  Please keep her and us in your prayers. Lots of preparations must take place between now and the big day - July 1st. And most importantly…pray for Sister as Jesus prepares her to be His bride.

   Today is Pentecost!  Veni Sancte Spiritus!  Veni Per Miriam! 

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• Bride of Christ , Novitiate news , Passionist Life
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Sponsa Christi June 11th, 2011

   Perhaps you are wondering why you haven’t heard from us in a while…or you might be getting used to my infrequent blogging.  

Things were a little crazy (again!) without them.  The air conditioning broke down in the kitchen – please God it will be fixed this coming week. The beater in the very large mixer broke and I melted the timer while cooking the pasta! 

    A group of men was here several days ago working in the courtyard and cemetery area pulling out the half dead shrubbery. We are re-doing our landscaping – easier to manage and please God, prettier. The front of the monastery looks great but the courtyard is quite neglected. 

    Oh, and I made some new friends during my glorious 8-day retreat – about 30 chiggers!

    Some of you might not be familiar with chiggers… here is an interesting picture of one. They can actually barely be seen without a microscope. Since this is a monastic blog and not a science blog I’ll let you find more information about them yourself.

     Sorry, I don’t have time to post more…there is a bad electrical storm and I need to sign off! 

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